the OA is 2^8


but how do you get that?

you cant just subtract and then square the exponents, that's incorrect.. So how is the answer 2^8?


I know it's certainly not

2^(4-1)^2 = 2^3^2 = 2^9

You CAN just subtract and square the exponents.

2^(4-1)^2

Take care of the info in the parentheses first: = 2^(3)^2

= 2^9...

2^3-2 = 2^3 / 2^2 = 2^1

Therefore 2^9/2^1 = 2^8

Proof for: 2^3^2 being equal to 2^9

2^(3)(3) IS the same as 2^3^2, in both cases the answer is 2 ^9 - take care of the exponent first, and then calculate.

(2^3)^2 = 2^6

2^3-2 = 2^1

Thus its saying, what is 2^6 / 2^1

which is 2^6-1

Hence 2^5 and "D"

I've ran into this problem on the practice test. The OA is 2^8

I believe the key here is that:

(2^3)^2 is NOT equal to 2^3^2

Remeber PEMDAS for calculating order:

(2^3)^2 = (2^3) x (2^3) = 2^6
2^3^3 = 2^(3^3) = 2^9

In this question's case, it's the latter, so
(2^9)/2 = 2^9 - 2^1 = 2^8

So I also vote for A) 2^8.